Same-sex marriage in Nova Scotia

Notes

^ ^a ^b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
^ ^a ^b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
^ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
^ Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
^ Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
^ Courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
^ Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights.
^ Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.

^ ^a ^b Not yet in effect.

Flag of Nova Scotia

Same-sex marriage in Nova Scotia: In August 2004, three couples in Nova Scotia brought the suit Boutilier et al. v. Canada (A.G) and Nova Scotia (A.G) against the provincial and federal governments requesting that it issue same-sex marriage licences. [1]

The partners who brought suit were:

Brian Mombourquette and Ross Boutilier
Kim Vance and Samantha Meehan, (married in Toronto in 2003 and seeking recognition of the marriage at home in Nova Scotia)
Ron and Brian Garnett-Doucette

On September 24, 2004, Justice Heather Robertson of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruled the current law is unconstitutional.

Neither the federal nor the provincial governments opposed the ruling, continuing the trend set with the Yukon and Manitoba rulings. The Nova Scotia justice minister said, "We certainly did not want to waste taxpayers' money." However, Premier John Hamm did not say whether he supports same-sex marriage.

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